Merry Christmas! A quick holiday episode with a reminder about kindness, a letter of gratitude for my daughter, and a teaser from some 2018 guests on the Engine Mom Podcast. *Please note: Adult language used in this episode*

Letter to my daughter:

Dear Sagey

This letter is well over due and I wanted to share it with you (and a few others) as a gift during this time of year. I just want to express my love for you and remind you how special you are to me and how grateful I am for you.

Thank you: for being patient with me even when I’m not reciprocative.

Thank you: for reminding me to put my phone away so I can be present with you.

Thank you: for challenging me and allowing me to put in to practice all the behaviors I preach.

Thank you: for forgiving me when I don’t practice what I preach.

Thank you: for your questions.

Thank you: for your laughter. Thank you: for feeling your big emotions and allowing me to help you work through them.

Thank you: for letting me feel big emotions and loving me as I work them.

Thank you: for your manners; for saying “please” and “thank you”.

Thank you: for you curiosity.

Thank you: for encouraging me – for saying “good job, Mommy” for doing something I do all the time

Thank you: for reminding me that a little praise goes a long way.

Thank you: for pulling my face up to yours and giving me a big kiss on the lips.

Thank you: for telling me that you love me and that I’m you’re friend.

Thank you: for considering me your friend.

Thank you: for wanting to always play with me. Thank you: for being resilient when I’m acting too busy to play with you. It’s a reminder to slow down as I dread the day that you no longer want to play with me because you’re too busy.

Thank you: for slowing me down.

Thank you: for lighting me up.

Thank you: for redefining the meaning of time management.

Thank you: for the chaos.

Thank you: for the silence.

Thank you: for the richness you’ve brought to my life. Thank you: for being in awe of the world.

Thank you: for being willing to try new things.

Thank you: for voicing your opinion, even when it differs from mine.

Thank you: for the mid-night cuddles. As much as I talk about you learning to sleep in your own bed throughout the night, I know how much I will yearn for the nights you curl up in bed next to me.